Maduro's Son Says Father Will 'Take' White House With Guns

(Newser)
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If the United States takes military action against the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Maduro's son says his country will "take" the White House with guns, Politico reports. Nicolas Maduro Guerra issued the warning yesterday in response to comments made by Donald Trump Friday that he would not rule out pursuing a "military option if necessary" against Maduro, whose government last month won elections that the State Department has called a "sham." "If the US soils the homeland, the rifles would come to New York and take the White House," Maduro Guerra told Venezuelan media.

While Maduro Guerra's threats against the White House are unlikely to come to fruition, Reuters reports that Trump's words could serve to further empower Maduro. Maduro has often invoked the threat of an American invasion to justify unpopular economic policies. His predecessor, Hugo Chavez, did the same thing: claiming the US was threatening to steal Venezuela's oil as a way to gin up popular support. Now, Maduro's opponents and critics are afraid Trump's talk will give weight to Maduro's tactics as a time when their country's democracy is at risk. (Read more Venezuela stories.)